Alex D
Member
Just wanted to give well deserved credit where it is due. I contacted Rick Herrell (an IAP vendor) about possibly making me a couple of custom mandrels for kitless pens.
The response I received was amazing. He knew I was new to kitless and instead of simply making my overly complicated mandrel design and then charging me accordingly, he worked with me to come up with a simpler design that had all the function, but without the unneccesary complications. In fact, his design is actually better as it leaves a bit of wiggle room to overcome small drilling errors. My original design would have required absolutely perfect step drilling every time.
However, that was not enough customer service for Rick. He asked if I had a blank drilled to fit the mandrels that he could use to make sure everything fit, but offered that he could do one himself if I didn't have one.
Not having a ton of confidence (yet) in my ability to drill per the deisgn, I asked if Rick would mind taking care of that part (I didn't want to provide him with an improperly drilled blank and end up with a mandrel that fit the poorly drilled blank).
Not only did he drill the blank, but he sent me the blank along with my order. And folks, he did not use a cheap piece of delrin, or anythying like that. It is a gorgeous blank that I cannot wait to turn and put into my personal collection.
That's alot of gushing, so let me just end by saying that Rick's attitude and customer serivce are simply exemplary as are his prices, his turnaround and the quality of the matierals he provides (I also have his sanding mill and a couple of tool rests).
Bottom line, if you need something made out of metal, contact Rick, you will not be disappointed!
Alex
The response I received was amazing. He knew I was new to kitless and instead of simply making my overly complicated mandrel design and then charging me accordingly, he worked with me to come up with a simpler design that had all the function, but without the unneccesary complications. In fact, his design is actually better as it leaves a bit of wiggle room to overcome small drilling errors. My original design would have required absolutely perfect step drilling every time.
However, that was not enough customer service for Rick. He asked if I had a blank drilled to fit the mandrels that he could use to make sure everything fit, but offered that he could do one himself if I didn't have one.
Not having a ton of confidence (yet) in my ability to drill per the deisgn, I asked if Rick would mind taking care of that part (I didn't want to provide him with an improperly drilled blank and end up with a mandrel that fit the poorly drilled blank).
Not only did he drill the blank, but he sent me the blank along with my order. And folks, he did not use a cheap piece of delrin, or anythying like that. It is a gorgeous blank that I cannot wait to turn and put into my personal collection.
That's alot of gushing, so let me just end by saying that Rick's attitude and customer serivce are simply exemplary as are his prices, his turnaround and the quality of the matierals he provides (I also have his sanding mill and a couple of tool rests).
Bottom line, if you need something made out of metal, contact Rick, you will not be disappointed!
Alex
